[PCWorld]

Post your comments for 10 reasons why Windows 8 makes sense for business here

[Charles03zp]

Nice advertisement. Now I will go back to Google News to find a real article.

[anonymuos]

Let's see:
1. Touchscreen UI: Do not want
2. Networking: Kidding? Windows 7's network pane is better than this ugly flyout
3. Windows 7 can also run on x86 Ultrabooks
4. Boot time again how idiotic. Windows 8 hibernates. So compare Windows 7 hibernate resume time with Windows 8 boot time.
5. How many people have dual monitors?
6. Better security? Doesn't matter. Windows 7 is secure enough. Even XP is secure enough
7. Storage Spaces: How many people build HDD pool?
8. SkyDrive? There is a SkyDrive app for Windows 7 too.
9. Task Manager? DO NOT WANT. It's horrible compared to classic one
10. Windows To Go is not there in Pro version of Windows 8. It's only in Enterprise. USELESS.

Bottom line: Windows 8 gives features no one wants while taking away Windows 7 features people LIKED. DO NOT WANT.

[djnforce9]

To add to anonymuos's post above (I think he meant "anonymous" but I'll go with how he typed his handle just in case it was intentional):

1. Constantly reaching over to touch the screen during a full work day would probably be pretty hard on your back after a while. Last thing a business wants is employees that are constantly in pain.

2. It's easier to set up Networking in Windows 8, but as long as users are trained correctly, they should have this problem in 7 either. Not to mention that the IT department would most likely have done it for everyone anyways.

3. Not very useful in a business that would rather standardize their hardware than use a wide variety. Have several device types just means more work for IT to support them.

4. Yes, part of Windows 8 is cached on the drive when you shutdown and then re-loaded again upon startup. This can be disabled though in which case start-up times won't be much faster than Windows 7. I turned it off because I have a solid state drive which is already extremely speedy (even in Windows 7) and I don't want to write to it excessively upon every shutdown.

5. Why is this even being touted as a new feature? In Windows 7, you just had to plug in a second monitor and Windows as well as your video card drivers would do everything for you. You could even re-arrange monitor positions in both the Windows display options and video card's control panel (be it AMD Catalyst or Nvidia Forceware). I'm guessing like with #2, the same functionality is there but maybe they made it easier to access but that's about it

6. I have to disagree with anonymuos's post on this point. Windows 8 does have better security and protection against rootkits (and from what I read, virus scans before Windows loads is now possible meaning that malware is cleaned before it gets a chance to load back into memory and propagate) and best of all, Microsoft Security Essentials is combined with BitDefender and bundled with the OS so you don't even have to hunt for an AV manually any longer (although the option is there for those that want to). Windows 7 had no anti-virus included whatsoever and BitDefender was rather weak on its own.

7. Does sound useful if you have a bunch of USB drives kicking around and want a single pool of space spanning across them all. However, I can't see anyone in a business using this function. Usually the USB drivers are meant to be portable rather than tethered to the worksstation as extra space.

8. There is NO WAY that any sensible business is going to let employees store confidential business data on Skydrive unless it is specifically sanctioned and of course encrypted during transmission. Also, the SkyDrive application is indeed available for Windows 7 (and much better than the Start Screen version in terms of functionality).

9. The Task Manager is better since it is far more detailed (it almost seems like it was combined with the resource monitor from Windows 7) and best of all, it lets you easily access and disable "start up" processes rather than having to hunt through the registry for a list of them or looking in your "Startup" folder. It even tells you what is slowing down start-up times the most which is a nice touch. My BIGGEST complaint with the Task Manager is that by default, it's not "Always on Top" unlike in previous versions of Windows. This means that if you have a fullscreen application that crashes (like a game), you cannot see the task manager as it will be underneath the game's window which then forces you to log out in order to close it. ALWAYS be sure to check the "Always on Top" menu item under options.

10. Handy but this was also possible with previous versions of Windows (granted this is the first "official" solution rather than somebody's "hack". Also anonymuos, since this article is in the context of businesses, they will most likely have the Enterprise version whereas Pro is more for home users.

[AsokAsus]

"10 reasons why Windows 8 makes sense for business"

Wow! This is the best belly laugh I've had this year! And you know what's even funnier: the sight of a 100 million CAD/CAM designers, accountants, and other industrial content makers holding their arms up all day inaccurately poking smudges on their 42" montiors with their fat fingers, working at 1/100th the speed as before Windows 8 with 1000 times the physical effort.

[dfghjghkghk]

I assume Microsoft wrote this.

[Tridus]

Totally idiotic article.

1. Touch sucks for doing most types of real office work. Have you ever tried to navigate Excel with touch? It's terrible. Hell, touch sucks in general when the screen is far away from you standing upright, like how most office computers are configured. Spending hours poking a touch screen at the office is going to be tiring and inefficient.

2. Office computers are hooked up to an enterprise network, they don't need to configure if it's home or office or any of that nonsense (group policy does it). As for airplane mode... business laptops commonly have a physical switch that shuts off the wifi. This is not worth an upgrade.

4. Why are you rebooting on a regular basis? Sleep & hibernate have been around for a very long time, and they're far faster than booting will ever be. (In fact, businesses can have tools that sleep every PC automatically in the evening and wake it back up before people come in, to save power.)

5. Great. Now if only Metro had anything resembling decent multitasking support, instead of wanting to full screen everything.

6. Corpporate will have an AV Solution already, so it doesn't matter for this article. Smartscreen is just a PITA that constantly nags me about links to sites like DeviantArt, because it doesn't know if its safe or not. More of that is not a selling point.

7. Probably nice, but not something your office desktop PC will get much use from.

8. Any decently sized company is not going to want people storing business documents on a non-corporate managed system, so this is not much of a selling feature for business either. (Plus it's not like it's hard to install Skydrive in Windows 7.)

9. Nice for power users, not relevant for most office users.

10. Nothing bad to say about that.

This article is a nice advertisement, but there's a reason why corporate adoption of Windows 8 is extremely low.

9.

[JohnUSA]

If businesses listen to Tony Bradley they will go bankrupt in a second.
Windows 8 is a garbage OS and all business IT managers are smart enough to stay away from this atrocious and abysmal new OS.
Windows 8 belongs in the garbage, and the world is waiting to see what stupid Microsoft is going to do with the new and upcoming Windows 9. We hope Windows 9 will be all that Windows 8 is not, and it will be a good and properly designed OS that we will not curse Microsoft every time we use it.

[TsarNikky]

Quote

Let's see: 1. Touchscreen UI: Do not want 2. Networking: Kidding? Windows 7's network pane is better than this ugly flyout 3. Windows 7 can also run on x86 Ultrabooks 4. Boot time again how idiotic. Windows 8 hibernates. So compare Windows 7 hibernate resume time with Windows 8 boot time. 5. How many people have dual monitors? 6. Better security? Doesn't matter. Windows 7 is secure enough. Even XP is secure enough 7. Storage Spaces: How many people build HDD pool? 8. SkyDrive? There is a SkyDrive app for Windows 7 too. 9. Task Manager? DO NOT WANT. It's horrible compared to classic one 10. Windows To Go is not there in Pro version of Windows 8. It's only in Enterprise. USELESS. Bottom line: Windows 8 gives features no one wants while taking away Windows 7 features people LIKED. DO NOT WANT.

Very valid observations, written by one who is in a realistic traditional business setting. Even more so, when one looks at larger sized businesses operating out of one or more office settings with "fixed location" employees and assets. Small business, who might be able to thrive on tablets and other mobile devices may find Windows-8 features an advantage.

[JohnUSA]

Touch interface will work on tablets or gadgets that are placed flat right in front of the user, like on a desk or table.
I want the world to know that flat screen monitors will be a HUGE FAILURE, as they will cause a lot of pain and suffering.
The reasons are health issues for the user.
When we use these horrible and atrocious touch monitors, our arm will always be extended to touch the screen, and in a short time our arm and shoulder will tire and start having pain. Businesses will have a huge increase in medical insurance costs.
FREE ADVICE: Avoid these pain causing gadgets at all costs.

[ronin7752]

Only Tony Bradley could spew this type of Corporate Propaganda with such naive sincerity. PCW is a disgrace for publishing this BS.

[Greywoof]

Woo hoo! Two screens open at once? Woo hoo!

[safasdfafsf]

Great article! I can see the benefit of Windows 8 for business. Most large businesses already use vertical touchscreens made by IBM so touchscreens for Windows make sense.

[ronin7752]

Quote

Touch interface will work on tablets or gadgets that are placed flat right in front of the user, like on a desk or table. I want the world to know that flat screen monitors will be a HUGE FAILURE, as they will cause a lot of pain and suffering. The reasons are health issues for the user. When we use these horrible and atrocious touch monitors, our arm will always be extended to touch the screen, and in a short time our arm and shoulder will tire and start having pain. Businesses will have a huge increase in medical insurance costs. FREE ADVICE: Avoid these pain causing gadgets at all costs.

This is indeed a hidden pitfall of desktop touchscreens. Fortunately, most people will have sense enough to not fall into it. All of my customers who purchased desktop touchscreens running Win 7 stopped using them after a few weeks and went back to using the mouse and keyboard exclusively. They said the desktop touchscreens were a "pain in the arm."

[isanio]

Dual monitor support? already had this since Windows XP.
boot time: <20sec with my ssd
network....
why am i even listing stuff.

How much did Microsoft pay PCWorld to push this?
@Tony Bradley: You should be ashamed of yourself.

Windows 8 is an OS that is not refined enough to replace a well working, hassle free Windows 7.
Businesses would be plain stupid to change their OS at the moment.
Your suggestions that businesses "might benefit" clearly shows your ignorance about office work spaces.

[AsokAsus]

Wow! Best belly laugh I've had this year so far! And you know what's even funnier? The sight of a 100 million CAD/CAM designers, accountants, and other industrial content makers holding their arms up all day inaccurately poking smudges on their 42" montiors with their fat fingers, working at 1/100th the speed as before Windows 8 with 1000 times the physical effort!

[jazzy007]

anonymuos and djnforce, it seems both of you are the kind of people that always see a glass of water half empty instead of half full. Your points is only worth to negative people than people that always look forward.
1-I am sure you might have a IPhone or Android phone with touch screen and you love it. So, what is not to like a tablet, laptop or even desktop that have a touch screen? It's another option to interface with your computer. Beside the keyboard and mouse, now you can use a digital pen or your fingers to do the walking. There is a high demand for touch screen computers with Windows 8, that will tell you most people do not agree with you.
2- What is ugly of the network panel? You open the panel, you connect your device and your done. Close the panel. Same thing you do at Windows 7, but with the benefict is easyier to connect. The tiles or panel can be adjusted to any color you like. At least Microsoft did not copy Apple or Android using icons (this way they will not get suit by Apple). In a way the tiles makes more sense and you can change size, color and position. A guess you did not know that, because if you have use Windows 8 you will know that.
3-The part of Windows 8 can be use on phones, tablets, laptop and desktop makes it easy to use ONE STANDARD. Once you get use to using Windows 8, any Windows 8 equipment will be the same interface and as I and many people that use Windows 8, we have found that it's easyier to use. Would IT want to support Windows, Android and Apple devices and different OS? I don't thing so. Windows 8 for the whole business makes more sense to me. One OS to work with.
4-Windows 8 does start faster from completely off to on. It's faster in a regular hard drive and much faster on SSD drive than Windows 7. Enough say.
5-Many people are using dual monitor or more. I do at work. Just because you don't use it, it does not mean is a not a feature. It's easy to connect. You have to try it before you talk about it.
6-Any extra security is always a benefit, and please do not mention you are not allow to install a Linux on the PC. Business do not use two OS in one computer at work. Only hobbyist and geek do this. If you want to run Linux, any flavor, as a geek you should be building your own PC, be it old PC or new one you build.
7-So far all new tablets and ultralight laptop are using SSD hard drive. It's between 64, 128 or 256GB of space. It's nice you can add regular hard drive with 1TB of space and see it as one. Even a portable hard drive makes sense.
8-Yes, Skydrive can be use in Windows 7, but the development of Windows 8 make Microsoft aware of the need for this. BTW, I have Skydrive at work. I just put work that I need there, no confidential files.
9- Your hate for Microsoft comes out here loud and clear. So, you want Task Manager on top of the game? You got to be kidding. But with a two screen you can do it. One screen the game and the other tasks manager or whatever you want to have open. If you have a touch screen, you can have or share the screen with your game and task manager if you can for that. The point is nobody have the task manager open all the time. You open when you need it and them you close it. Your point does not hold water.
10- As for business, they usually get the Enterprise edition and it's a bonus to have Windows 8 TO GO. It's an option, not a wall where you cannot do anything.

[FollTrace]

Quote

Let's see: 1. Touchscreen UI: Do not want 2. Networking: Kidding? Windows 7's network pane is better than this ugly flyout 3. Windows 7 can also run on x86 Ultrabooks 4. Boot time again how idiotic. Windows 8 hibernates. So compare Windows 7 hibernate resume time with Windows 8 boot time. 5. How many people have dual monitors? 6. Better security? Doesn't matter. Windows 7 is secure enough. Even XP is secure enough 7. Storage Spaces: How many people build HDD pool? 8. SkyDrive? There is a SkyDrive app for Windows 7 too. 9. Task Manager? DO NOT WANT. It's horrible compared to classic one 10. Windows To Go is not there in Pro version of Windows 8. It's only in Enterprise. USELESS. Bottom line: Windows 8 gives features no one wants while taking away Windows 7 features people LIKED. DO NOT WANT.

Your giving out consumer perspectives thus your statement is invalid.

[narmez]

Quote

Let's see: 1. Touchscreen UI: Do not want 2. Networking: Kidding? Windows 7's network pane is better than this ugly flyout 3. Windows 7 can also run on x86 Ultrabooks 4. Boot time again how idiotic. Windows 8 hibernates. So compare Windows 7 hibernate resume time with Windows 8 boot time. 5. How many people have dual monitors? 6. Better security? Doesn't matter. Windows 7 is secure enough. Even XP is secure enough 7. Storage Spaces: How many people build HDD pool? 8. SkyDrive? There is a SkyDrive app for Windows 7 too. 9. Task Manager? DO NOT WANT. It's horrible compared to classic one 10. Windows To Go is not there in Pro version of Windows 8. It's only in Enterprise. USELESS. Bottom line: Windows 8 gives features no one wants while taking away Windows 7 features people LIKED. DO NOT WANT. Your giving out consumer perspectives thus your statement is invalid.

who gives you the right to talk on behalf of everyone people have different needs and different requirements so features you don't want could be the most important features others need

and incase you don't know this article talking about business needs

[narmez]

Quote

Touch interface will work on tablets or gadgets that are placed flat right in front of the user, like on a desk or table. I want the world to know that flat screen monitors will be a HUGE FAILURE, as they will cause a lot of pain and suffering. The reasons are health issues for the user. When we use these horrible and atrocious touch monitors, our arm will always be extended to touch the screen, and in a short time our arm and shoulder will tire and start having pain. Businesses will have a huge increase in medical insurance costs. FREE ADVICE: Avoid these pain causing gadgets at all costs. This is indeed a hidden pitfall of desktop touchscreens. Fortunately, most people will have sense enough to not fall into it. All of my customers who purchased desktop touchscreens running Win 7 stopped using them after a few weeks and went back to using the mouse and keyboard exclusively. They said the desktop touchscreens were a "pain in the arm."

that's because windows 7 wasn't optimized enough for touch screen
unlike windows 8 which full support for both touch screen and mouse+ keyboard